11yo boy dies after falling into a volcanic crater in Italy, parents also died trying to help him

09:54, 13 September 2017, 389

AKIPRESS.COM - A boy and his parents have died after falling into a pit in a volcanic crater at Solfatara near Naples, BBC reported.

The drama unfolded during a family trip at the end of the school holidays, when the 11-year-old walked past a barrier into a prohibited area.

When his parents tried to pull him to safety, part of the crater collapsed and they fell 3m (10ft) into a hole.

It is thought all three were overcome by fumes. Their seven-year-old son did not enter the crater and survived.

Solfatara of Pozzuoli is one of a number of volcanoes to the west of Naples and is popular with tourists. A dormant volcano that last erupted in 1198, it has a shallow crater and is known for its sulphurous fumes and emissions of steam.